Resilient wheel



1 1,627,789 May 1927' H. c. LORD RESILIENT WHEEL Filed Feb. 19, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet l 1,627,789 May. 10, 1927. H. C. LORD RESILIENT WHEEL Filed Feb. 19. 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 10,1921.

' ordinary shocks.

free to stretch, one

' sisting movement.

- with the rubber, thus m en c. Loan, or ERIE, rnnnsnvama nnsrnmn'r man.

Application filed Eebmary 19, 1821.

According to this invention a wheel is formed of two members, one associated with the hub and the other with the rim. These members are united by a yielding connection extending in an axial direction and suspending theone member with relation to the other by tension, or in a manner in which tension is the dominant factor. In this way one member may with relation to the other so as tobe quite yielding in its initial movement and presenting a veryrapidly increasing resistance toward the. end of its movement. This gives a very much improved-result in that it gives a very yielding efiectwhen the load is normal and still prevents a displacement to the positive limit which must be provided under In carrying out my invention I preferably use rubber as a medium and make the connection in such dimensions relatively to the gap between the, members as to make the stretch of the rubber as distinguished from mere lateral distor-' tion or bending the dominant factor in re- To accomplish this the rubber in the form of a long thin strip may be wound up on securing rings engaging the edges of the rubber strip, the rubber being bound in place by metal tape as'it is wound,

wound under pressure binding the edges of the strip and leaving the intervening part layer being slightly, out of contact with another so asto avoid-friction. When such a yielding connection is the metal tape belng provided the front and back sides of the connection for the moment will present the rubber span edgewise and to this extent the connection will be subject to pronounced lateral distortion as well as stretch. In order to avoid this transverse slits ma be formed in the connecting span of the ru her so as to make the connection a mass of small strands having very littlelateral resistance but resisting the yielding movement of the wheel almost entirely through the stretch of the strands.- \Vith these strands arranged initially in an axial direction a displacement of one wheel member relatively to the other will change the angular relation of the strands so that there is not only the increased resistance to displacement through the stretching of the rubber but also a very pronounced increased resistance due to the angular relation of the strands to the direcbe suspended usual manner and maintain the seriallolmm I tion of movementb which the displacement is accomplished.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings as follows 2-- Fig. 1 shows a side elevation of the wheel.

Fig. 2 a section on the line 2-2 in Fig 1.

Fig. 3 an enlarged section on the line 3-'-3 in Fig. 2.

Fig." 4 a section on the line 4-4 in Fig. 3.

Fig. ,5 an enlar ed sectionof one of the layers-of rubber with the binding bands.

Fig. 6 a plan view of 'apreferred form of rubber strip. U Fig. 7 an alternative construction .of rubber strip. i i i 1 marks the hub, 2 the felloe, 3 the rim, and 4 a tire which ma be either solid or pneumatic. has a radially-extending flange 5 at one side of the wheel and. a

radially extending flange .UNITED TATE P N C As shown it is solid. The hub 6 at, the opposite side of the wheel, the flange 6 extending from a sleeve 7- which is arranged on the hub and abuts against a shoulder 8 limiting its axial movement.

Any convenient form of bearing (not.

shown) may be supplied.- A cap 7' is florbmed on the sleeve 7 closing the end-of the Spokes 9 are secured in the felloe in the the inner ends are driven into an annular channel 10. The bottom 11 sod of the channel is screw-threaded at its inner 4 periphery. v

Inner supporting rings .12 and 13 are rovided on which the connection'is wound.

he rin s 12 and 13 have the V-shaped ribs 14 and t e outer annular lips 15. A rubber strip 16 is wound on the rings 12 and as wound is bound by the metal tapes 17, these tapes having the V-sha-ped center 18. conforming to the ribs 14 and the outer shoulders 19 following the lips 15, the outer edges of the shoulders 19 contacting with the next succeeding wrap of the tape so as to lat- 1 erally support one layer with another. The strip of rubber with the tape so formed is wound up with the tapes under sufiicient pressure to hold the spans of rubber as they are subjected to strain andthe thickness of the tape or binding portions is suiiicient to layers of rubber out of contact and with just 'sufiicient space to accomplish this purpose. tapes are wound oif the reel (not shown) having suflicient resistance to give the ten- Qrdinarily the rubber wheel but this may be done in advance.

Further the tapes may be put on in advance and the cushioning strips may be put on in advancegathe manner of assembling these parts up to the point of winding being carried out by any desirable handling means. A cushioning or wear strip '20 is preferably afforded over the binding tapes 17 with the fold at 21 protecting the rubber from the cutting action of the tape. After the winding is completed-the securing rings 22 are compressed and clamped on the outer wrap of the tape, the securing rings 22v conforming on their inner peripheries to the shape of the tapes so as to engage them. The rings arepreferably separated at one point and a small insert 22*- provided and the ends are secured by straps 25 placed over the pins 24.

The steel tapes should be wide enough with relation to the strain carried. by the rubber. to maintain their position against lateral displacement and to assist in this the ribs interlock and the shoulders 19 engage succeeding wraps. The material is clamped by the rings to facilitate this but if the num-' ber of wraps is increased the tapes should be widened correspondingly so as to maintain the rigidity of the sides of the resilient connection.

The rings 12 extend inwardly from the wrapped portion and the outer periphery of each extension is screw-threaded. These rings are screwed into the connecting wall 11 of the channel 10. Bolts 27 are passed through the rings 22 at the inside of the connection and these clamp the rings against the sides of the channel 10 and also tend to clamp the channels against the spokes. The outside inner rings 13 are screw-threaded on their inner periphery and screwed on to the screw-threaded shoulders 28 on the inner faces of the flanges 5 and 6. The shoulder 8 maybe so distanced from the flange 5 that the threads on the shoulders 28 will, when the rubber connection is slack, just enter the threads on the rings 13 so that with the continued screwing up of the rings by turning the flange 6 the rings.13 are separated, thus placlng the spans of rubber in the connection under initial tension. As the rings 13 are brought to place against the flanges .5 and 6 they are locked in place by screws 29. The rings 22 at the outside of the connection are clamped to the inner faces of the flanges 5 and 6 by means of screws 30 which extend through the flanges into the rings 22, the rings 22 having screwthreaded perforations for this purpose and the flanges having openings to receive the screws. g It will be observed that the resulting connection is formed with a scroll of rubber of comparatively small cross section radially as compared to the space spanned. Any pressure on the rib member of the wheel which displaces the channel with relation to the flanges deflects the spans of rubber. 'If this displacement is vertical the parts of the bands for the moment at the top and bot-.- d

tom are deflected to an angle to the surfaces of the bands. and the lateral distortion or bending of the rubber in these parts of the periphery takes place in a very thin portion so that the resistance to this vertical displacement in this portion of the circle is almostentirely incident to the resistance of the stretch of, the rubber as distinguished from lateral bending. At the parts of the bands for the moment at the front and back of the connection, however, the rubber is displaced edgewise and if the rubber strip is solid there is a certain amount of resistance to this displacement of a nature corresponding to lateral bending. This not only puts the rubber under added strain but the variation in resistance as the displacement continues does not follow the same law as where the resistance due to lateral bendin is practically eliminated as at theto'p and bottom. I prefer, therefore, tov form the rubber strips with transverse'slits extending across the yielding span and to form the bars 23 between the slits of approximately the same width as the thickness of the rubber strip so that the bars will have equal cross dimensions radially and circumferentially. In this way all parts of the connection in all parts of the revolution resist the displacement of one wheel member relatively to the other through tension or lengthwise stretching of the spans as distinguished from resistance incident to lateral bending. The resistance incident to lateral bending is thus made nearly ne ligible.

In order to strengt en the points of greatest strain, namely, along the binding edges I prefer to terminate the bars 23 adjacent to but slightly removed from the inner edges of the binding tapes leaving a continuous strip'of rubber along the outer edges of thebars so as to re-enforce them, or make the bend at the point of securing the bars less approximately in a vertical plane, or plane in the direction of strain. Therefore the.. of wraps is required and consequently a bendin will largely take place in the strands greater amount of tape. In a referable inthemselves adjacent to the ends of the stallation, however, these stran s at each side strands so that the bending act'on which of the element ofan ordinary wheel such as takes lace in the revolution of the wheel used in an automobile would run into thouunder oad is distributed and thus thelife of sands. Y the connection increased. It will be under- In Fi 6 I have shown the rubber strip stood that the strands or bars 23 are out of as shtte and the slits open andin Fig. 7 acontact circumferentially, These bars may sohd ribbon 16'.

10 be formed in any convenient manner, during What I-claim as new is vulcanization, or subsequent thereto. One 1. In a wheel, the combination of a hub convenient method of forming the bars is to member; a rim member, said members having slit-the ribbon of rubber after it is vulcanradially overlapping portions spaced apart; ized, the slits being preferably a distance and an elastic rubber connection extending I apart equal to the thickness of the rubber. axially between said members having strands, so By stretching the rubber band as a whole all cross dimensions of the strands being less very slightly as it is wound the slits between than the space between themembers. the bars are opened and this may be con- 2. In a wheel,-the combination of a hub trolled by the amount of stretch. A very member; a rim member, said members hav- 2 slight stretch is sufiicient to carry the bars ing radially overlapping portions spaced 83 out of engagement. With the connection a art; and a laminated connection between thus constructed the friction is almost ente members resisting a relative radial movetirely confined to the inherent or internal ment of the members through resistance to friction of the rubber and this is no ligible. the stretch of the connectionthe. intermedi- A protecting band 31 of bellowss ape 1s ateportions of the laminations being discon- 0 clamped between the rings 22 and the flanges nected. v and annular channel,t us closing the an- 3. In awheel, the combination of a hub nular space and protecting the outer layer of member; a rim member, said members havrubber and at the same time forming a more ing radially overlapping portions spaced l 3 perfect joint between the rings and the apart; anda laminated connection between flanges and channel. the members, the resistance of the connection I prefer to enclose the operatin part of to stretch being the dominant resistance to the connection in'air-tight sealing ands 32. relative radial movement of the members.

- The inner one can be run on the bearings 12 4. In a wheel, the" combination of a hub and 13 and the ends sealed prior to running member; a rim member, said members hawon the rubber and bands and the outer one ing radially overlapping portions spaced is put in place prior to the clamping down 9. art; and a laminated connection between of' the rings 22. The space occupied by the t e members resisting a relative radial move- I insert 22"- aiiords means for securing or holdment of the members through resistance to 4U ing the end of the metal tape'while the ring the stretch of the connection, said lamina- '22 is being clamped in place preferably by tions being out ofcontact. a clamp having a lurality ofradially clos- 5. In a wheel, the combination of a hub ing jaws. After t is part of the'clamp is member; arim member, said members havset the ends of the met tapes may be put in ing radially overlapping portions spaced 4 place with the strips 20 providing a sealing apart; and a laminated connection between base and the ends of the sealing strip 32 the members, said laminations being annular brought together and closed. The insert 22 and resisting relative radial movement of, is then clamped in place and the plates 25 the members through resistance to stretch of can then he slipped in place locking the whole the connection the intermediate portions of in position. With these sealing strips there the laminations being disconnected.

is afforded an air-tight seal for the connec- 6. In a wheel, the combination of a hub tion and thus the space occupied by the mulmember; a rim member, said members havtitude of strands may be filled with an inert ing radially overlapping portions spaced gas, for example, nitrogen, sons to retard apart; and a laminated connection between the deterioration of the rubber. the members, said lamin'ations being annular \Vhile I have shown a comparative thickand resisting relative radial movement of ness of rubber strip which may be used, it will the members through resistance to stretch of be understood that the thinner the strip and the connection, said laminations being out the smaller the strands the less distress is of contact. I 60 given to the rubber at the bending points. 7. In a wheel, the combination of a hub The comparative thickness, therefore, is one member; a rim member, said members havof expediency except that these strands are ing radially overlapping portions spacedminute as compared with any device of this apart; and a laminated connection between character with which I am acquainted. As the members, said laminations being annular I 65 the bands are made thinner a greater number and the resistance of the connection to stretch formed of a plnralit of tension strands thining radially overlapping ner than the space tween the wheel mem-' bers.

9. In a wheel, the combination of a hubmember; a rim member, said members having radially overlapping portions spaced apart; and a resilient axially extending rubber tension connection between the wheel members,-said connection being subjected to tension with the initial movement of the wheel members, said connection being formed of a plurality of tension strands thinner than the space between the wheel members, said elements being out of contact.

10. In a wheel, the combination of a hub member a rim member, said members havortions spaced apart; and a resilient axial y extending tension connection between'the wheel members,

said connection being subjected to tension with the initial movement of the wheel mem-- bers, said connection being formed of a plurality of rubber tensionstrands, each cross dimension of the strands being less than the space between the members. Y

11. In a wheel, the combination of a hub member; a rim member, said'members having radially overlapping portions spaced apart; and a resilient axially extending tension connection between the wheel members, said connection being subjected to tension with the initial movement of thewheel members, said connection being formed of a plurality of rubber tension strands, each cross dimension of the strands being less than the space between the members and said strands being-out of contact.

12. In awheel, the combination of a hub member a rim member, said members having radially overlapping portions spaced apart; and a resilient connection between the members, said connection being formed of a plurality of resilient strands integrally united at-their ends.

13. In a .wheel, the combination of a hub member; a rim member, said members having radially overlapping portions spaced apart; and a resilient connection between the members, said connection being formed of a plurality of resilient strands integrally united at their ends, the middle portions of the strands being out of contact.

14. In a wheel, the combination of a hub member; a rim member, said members having radially overlapping portions spaced apart; and a connection-between the mom bers made up of annular layers of rubber and non-elastic bands binding the rubber at the ed es.

15. In a wheel, the combination of a hub member; a rim member, said members having radially overlapping portions spaced hub member; a rim member, said members having radially overlapping portions spaced apart; and a connection between the members made up of annular layers of rubber j and non-elastic bands binding the rubber at the edges, said bands having locking'ribs.v

17. In a wheel, the combination of a hub member; a rim member, said members having radially overlapping portions spaced apart; and a connection between the members made up of annular layers of rubber and non-elastic bands binding the rubber at the edges, said bands having locking parts in direct contact.

18. In a wheel, the combination of a hub member; a rim member, said members having radially overlapping portions spaced 1 apart; and a connection between the members made up of annular layers of rubber and non-elastic bands binding the rubber at the edges, said bands having locking ribs intermediate their edges and shoulders at the outer edges in direct contact.

19. In a. wheel, the combination of a hub member; a rim member, said members having radially overlapping portions spacedapart; and a connection between the mem'-' bers made up of annular layers of rubber with transverse slits forming tension bars and non-elastic bands binding the layers-of rubber at the edges.

20, In a wheel, the combination of a hub member; a rim member, said members having radially overlapping portions spaced apart; and a connection between the members made up of annular layers of rubber with transverse slits forming tension bars of equal cross dimensions and non-elastic bands binding the layers of rubber at the edges.

21. In a wheel, the combination of a hub member; a rim member, said members having radially overlapping portions spaced apart; and a connection .between the members made up of annular layers of rubber with transverse slits forming tension bars and non-elastic bands binding the layers of rubber at the edges, said bars being out of contact.

22. In a Wheel, the combination of a hub member; a rim member, said members having radially overlapping portions spaced apart; and a connection between the members made upof annular layers of rubber with transverse slits forming tension bars and non-elastic bands binding the layers of rubber at the edges, the slits terminating adjacent to but outside the bands.

23. In a wheel, the combination of a;

hub member; a rim member, said members having radially overlapping portions spaced apart; and a connection between the members made up of a plurality of strands secured to the members and having the intermediate portions out of contact, said strgnds being re-enforced adjacent to their en 5.

24. In a wheel, the combination of a hub member; a rim member, said members having radially overlapping portions spaced apart; a connection between the members made up of annular layers of rubber and metal bandsbinding the rubber at the edges; and strips between the bands and rubber layers.

25. In a wheel, the combination of a hub member; a rim member, said members having radially overlapping portions spaced apart; a connection between the members made up 'of annular layers of rubber and metal bands binding the rubber at the edges;

and strips between the bands and rubber layers, said strips extending beyond the inner edges of the bands.

26. In a wheel, the combination of a hub member; a rim member, said members having radially overlapping portions spaced apart; a connection between the members made up of annular layers of rubber and metal bands binding the rubber at the edges; and strips between the bands and rubber layers, said strips extending around the inner ed es of the bands.

27. n a wheel, the combination of a hub member; a rim member, said members having radially overlapping portions spaced apart; a connection between said members formed of annular layers of rubber; securing rings on which the layers of rubber are formed; non-elastic bands binding the edges of the rubber on the inner securing rings; and outer securing rings clamped on the outer edges of the connection. 28. In a wheel, the combination of a hub member; a rim member, said members having radially overlapping portions spaced apart: and a connection between the members'formed of a strip of rubber wound up and bound at the edges by bands alternating with the layers of rubber.

29. In a wheel, the combination of a hub member; a rim member, said members having radially overlapping portions spaced apart; and a connection between the members formed of a strip of rubber wound up and bound at the edges by bands alternating with the layers of rubber, the convolutions of rubber being out of contact.

30. In a wheel, the combination of a hub member; a rim member, said members having radially overlapping portions spaced apart; and a connection between the members formed of a strip of rubber wound up and bound at the edges by bands alternating with the layers of rubber, the bands having locking ribs.

- 31. In a wheel, the combination of a hub member: a rim member, said members having radially overlapping portions spaced apart; and a connection between the members formed of a strip of rubber wound up andrbound at the edges by bands alternating with the layers of rubber, the bands hav- .ing

locking parts in direct contact.

32. In a wheel, the combination of a hub member; a rim member, said members having radially overlapping portions spaced apart; and aconnection between the members formed of a strip of rubber wound up and bound at the edges by bands alternating with the layers of rubber, each band having av locking rib intermediate its edges and a shoulder at one edge, the shoulder on one convolution contacting wit-h a succeeding convolution of the band.

33. In a wheel, the combination of a hub member; a rim member, said members having radially overlapping portions spaced apart; and a connection between the members formed of a strip of rubber wound up and bound at the edges by bands alternating with the layers of rubber, said strip of rubber having slits forming tension bars.

34.In a wheel, the combination of a hub member; a rim member, said members having radially overlapping portions spaced apart; a connection between the members, said connection being formed of rubber wound on inner securing rings; bands arranged at the edges otthe rubber and bound into the structure with the rubber; and securing means at the outer peripheries of the assembled bands.

35. In a wheel, the combination of a hub member; a rim member, said members having radially overlapping portions spaced apart; a connection between the members, said ponnection being formed of rubber wound on inner securing rings; bands arranged at the edges of the rubber and bound into the structure with the rubber; and securing means at the outer peripheries of the assembled bands in the form of clamping rings adapted to secure the connection to the wheel members.

36. In a wheel, the combination of a hub member; a rim member, said members having radially overlapping portions spaced apart; and a connection between the members formed of astrip of rubber wound around the axis of the wheel a plurality of times and boundat the edges by bands alternating with the layers of rubber.

37. In a wheel, the combination of a hub member; a rim member, said members having radially overlapping portions spaced apart; and a connection between the members formed of a strip of rubber wound around the axis of the wheel and bound at rim member having an annular plate arranged between the flanges, the inner periphery of the plate being screw-threaded; a connection between the members comprisingrings spaced apart, the outside rings being screwed on to the shoulders on the flanges and the inside rings being screwed into the annular plate; a rubber strip wound on to each cooperative pair of said rings; binding tapes clamping the rubber strip on the rings; clamping rings on the outer periphery of the wound rubber and tapes; and means for securing said outer rings to the fiangesand annular plate.

39. In a wheel, the combination of a. hub member; a rim member, said members having radially overlapping portions spaced apart; an elastic rubber connection extending axially between said members, one cross dimension of the connection being less than the distance between the members; and means for putting the connection under initial tension.

40. In a wheel, the combination of a hub member; a rim member, said members having radially overlapping portions spaced apart; a connection with its layers superimposed radially between the members resisting a relative radial movement of the members through resistance to the stretch of the connection; and means for putting the connection under initial tension.

the connection under'initial tension.

42. In a wheel, the combination of a hub member; a rim member, said members having radially overlapping portions spaced apart; a connection b'etwecn the members made up of annular layers of rubber and non-elastic bands binding the rubber at the edges; and means for putting the, connection under initial tension.

43. In a wheel, the combination of a hub member; a rim member, said members having radially overlapping parts; a resilient.- rubber connection extending axially between said members; and a flexible strip arranged between said members to protect said resilient connection.

44. In a wheel, the combination of a hub member; a rim member, said members having overlapping'parts; an axially extending resilient connection between said mem bers; and an air-tight seal enclosing the resilient connection.

45. In a wheel, the combination of a hub member; a rim member, said members having' overlapping parts; a resilient rubber connection between said members; an air-' tight seal enclosing the resilient connection; and a gas more inert as to rubber than air within the seal.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

HUGH c. LORD. 

